1. Cultural diversity
2. Death
3. Historical fiction
4. History
5. Humanity
6. Kindness
7. Kokoda Track
8. Letters
9. Papua New Guinea
10. Rainforests
11. Soldiers
12. Visual literacy
13. War
14. WW2

Like Gallipoli, the WW2 Kokoda track or trail military campaign are seen as defining moments in Australia’s history and mythology. Much has been written about the Kokoda campaign generally from an Australian military perspective. ‘Angel of Kokoda’ presents a different viewpoint.

Kari is a young boy living in the Central Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). He is alone, his mother has died and his father is away working. He attends the local mission school and has a warm friendship with Sister Mary. She is teaching him English and he, in turn words, from his language. He is especially taken with her music box with its angel wings that open like the local butterflies.

This idyll is abruptly interrupted, war has reached PNG. Loud rumbles fill the air and Sister Mary has disappeared from the mission where Kari finds a note and the music box. Searching for Sister Mary he meets some Australian soldiers one, on seeing the music box ‘asks if he’s okay.’ Suddenly the air explodes and Kari is in the midst of a gun battle. As the Australians retreat Kari stumbles on a badly wounded soldier, the one who had spoken to him. Kari tries to help, lifting and dragging him along the track sadly, and ultimately to a final resting place where music box angels and fluttering butterflies provide hopeful comfort.

This is a gentle story with an emotional impact. Kari is not a soldier, he did not invite war in. He is, as author Mark Wilson explains, ‘an ordinary boy caught up in extraordinary circumstances’ and yet he selflessly tries to help despite just being in a terrifying gun battle. An act which reveals a lot about his character.

Mark Wilson’s artwork is oil on canvas with a dark murky green the dominant colour reflecting the dense and difficult jungle of the Kokoda track. Charcoal or black and white images provide closer details such as the mission’s note or official correspondence or the sepia toned image of the mud-covered Australian soldiers.

One of the important aspects of the war in PNG was the work of the locals in helping the Australian soldiers. Known as ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ their work in carrying supplies and the wounded through the difficult and dangerous terrain was only relatively recently recognised as a significant factor in the campaign’s eventual success. ‘Angel of Kokoda’ is an interesting way to present and promote discussion of the important role played by Papua New Guinea people in WW2 and the assistance provided by, and the possible consequences for locals in other theatres of war.

Series: Children in War series

1. Hachette Australia 2010. Teaching notes by Robyn Sheahan-Bright for ‘Angel of Kokoda’ by Mark Wilson https://marklwilson.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Angel-Of-Kokoda-Teachers-Notes.pdf
2. Kids’ Book Review 11 March 2010. Tania McCartney reviews ‘Angel of Kokoda’ by Mark Wilson http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2010/03/review-angel-of-kokoda.html
3. Our Global Classroom 21 April 2019 ‘Angel of Kokoda – Putting Yourself in the Kokoda Soldier’s Shoes #ANZACDay https://ourglobalclassroom.org/2019/04/21/angel-of-kokoda-putting-yourself-in-the-kokoda-soliders-shoes/
4. Mashable ‘The Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels: The tireless life-savers of the New Guinea campaign (1942-1945) by Alex Q, Arbuckle https://mashable.com/feature/fuzzy-wuzzy-angels
5. Monument Australia ‘Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels’ - monument Kokoda trail Papua-New Guinea https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/99236-fuzzy-wuzzy-angels
6. Australian War Memorial 2012, Emma Rogerson ‘The ’Fuzzy-Wuzzy Angels’: looking beyond the myth.’ https://www.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/svss_2012_rogerson_paper.pdf